USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33
President, William Noel; vice president, C. W. Meharry; secretary, John J. Simons; treasurer, George Wright; corresponding secretary, C. II. Frew; executive committee, John Bodley, Lindsey Corbley, J. H. Flagg, R. Cruzen, A. II. Hanley, John Karr, F. T. Putt, B. F. Hill, John Bayne.
The fair in 1874 was held at Paxton, September 29 to October 2.
The next annual fair was held at the same place, September 21 to 24, 1875. Officers: President, William Noel; vice president, J. II. Flagg; seere- tary, Merton Dunlap; treasurer, J. P. Day; corresponding secretary, N. E.
228
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Stevens; executive committee, F. T. Putt, HI. J. Schaeffer, John Karr. John Bayne, P. V. Healey, John Bodley, B. F. Hill, N. B. Day, R. Cruzen.
In 1876 the fair was held September 19 to 22. Officers : president, F. T. Putt; vice president, J. H. Flagg; secretary. Merton Dunlap; treasurer, John M. Hall; corresponding secretary. N. E. Stevens; executive committee, William Noel, George Arnott, William T. Patton, H. J. Schaeffer. C. H. Frew, G. W. Cruzen, J. P. Middlecoff, John Karr. P. V. Healey.
The fair in 1877 was held September 11 to 14. Officers : president, F. T. Putt ; vice president. William Noel; secretary, John J. Simons; treasurer, John M. Hall; corresponding secretary, N. E. Stevens; executive committee, II. J. Schaeffer, G. W. Cruzen, George Arnott, A. L. Clark, N. B. Day, Charles Bogardus, C. M. Bodley, Daniel Moudy, J. HI. Flagg.
The date of the next fair was September 10 to 13, 1878. Officers : pres- ident, Abram Croft; vice president, H. J. Schaeffer; secretary, G. W. Cruzen ; treasurer, John M. IIall; corresponding secretary, N. E. Stevens; executive committee, J. P. Day. Stacey Daniels, Daniel Moudy, W. E. Sawyer. J. B. Loose, R. Cruzen, George Arnott, C. W. Meharry, Lindsey Corbley.
In 1879 the fair was held September 16 to 19. Officers: president, Abram Croft; vice president. A. L. Clark; secretary, G. W. Cruzen; treasurer, John M. Hall; corresponding secretary, N. E. Stevens; directors, J. P. Day. J. C. Kirkpatrick, J. B. Loose, William Noel, F. T. Putt, W. E. Sawyer.
The fair of 1880 was held August 31 and September 1 to 3. Officers : president, Abram Croft; vice presidents, J. P. Day. A. Goodell. H. J. Schaef- fer; secretary, W. MeTaggart; treasurer, John M. Hall; corresponding seere- tary, N. E. Stevens; directors, N. B. Day, O. A. Swanson, T. M. King. A. M. Daggett, John Karr, J. W. Axline, J. R. Kinnear, William Noel, E. F. Earl.
The last fair was held in Paxton, August 30 and 31, and September 1 and 2, 1881. Officers: president, Charles Bogardus; vice presidents, E. F. Earl, N. B. Day, W. E. Sawyer; secretary, George A. Hall; treasurer, George Grove; corresponding secretary, D. E. Stoner; directors. A. Croft. W. MeTag- gart, William Noel, A. M. Daggett, T. M. King, William Kenney, Nels Dahl- gren, R. S. Hall, J. W. Axline.
BRENTON AND PELLA FARMERS' CLUB.
At a meeting held in Clark's Hall at Piper City, November 5, 1881, by some of the citizens of Brenton and Pella townships, for the purpose of organ- izing a farmers' club, the following business was transacted :
229
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
On motion of James MeDermott, of Pella, James Arnold, of Pella, was chosen president. On motion of James R. Rezner, of Brenton, T. J. Sowers, of Pella, was chosen secretary, and on motion of Peter Gallahue, of Pella, James R. Rezner, of Brenton, was elected treasurer. On motion, the club was named The Brenton and Pella Farmers' Club.
On motion, adjourned to meet again in Clark's Hall, December 3, 1881, at 7 o'clock, P. M.
T. J. Sowers, Secretary.
At the next meeting. December 3, 1881, J. A. Montelius moved that the officers elected hold their offices for one year. Carried.
This was the first of a number of most interesting meetings during the winter of 1881-82. They were all well attended, and many farmers gave some valuable information on matters of interest to agriculturists.
During this year it was decided to hold a fair for the exhibition of live stock, and the 23d day of September, 1882, was selected for the occasion.
At this meeting, Henry Allnutt was elected assistant secretary.
The premiums offered were the Western Rural and Piper City Advertiser, for the best blooded animal on the grounds.
The blue and red ribbons were awarded in each class. There were sev- enty-nine entries. Three span of horses afterward sold for five hundred dol- lars each for each span. R. Dunn, of Brenton, took the Western Rural and Advertiser premium.
GIBSON.
This society was organized in 1872, and the first fair was held in Septem- ber of that year. The first officers were J. E. Davis, president; W. H. Simnis, secretary; John H. Collier, treasurer. The society continued in successful operation until 1879, the last fair being in September of the latter year. The last officers were J. B. Lott, president; R. M. Smith, secretary; M. T. Bur- well, treasurer.
Mr. Lott, who was very active and succeeded in making this last fair quite a success, was taken sick and died shortly afterward.
THIE SCHOOLS OF FORD COUNTY.
People always enjoy the contemplation of that portion of their history which has been subject to severe struggles and hardships, because all things valuable are acquired by exertion, self-sacrifice and cost, and amid great vicissitudes.
230
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
What is true of individual history is equally true of the history of com- munities and nations. Even the histories of enterprises of all kinds are subject to the same general law.
It is a lamentable fact. however, that those incidents, in which we feel so keen and lively an interest. are largely wrapped in the obscurity of tradition. This is owing to the small, almost insignificant. beginning of all enterprises, and the little importance attached to the necessity of preserving the early records. We are apt to forget that, however insignificant the beginning of anything may be. it may, in course of time, assume vast and paramount importance.
Near the close of October. A. D. 1853, David Patton removed from Lafayette. Indiana, to that portion of the present Ford county, popularly known as Ten Mile Grove, about two and a half miles west of Paxton. Ilere Mr. Patton found about a dozen families, who had located along this belt of timber, not venturing far out on the prairie lest they should laek for fuel and shelter, which the timber so gratuitously provided.
The schoolhouses nearest to this point were located at Urbana and Middle- port, a distance of about twenty-five miles. The desire to give their children an elementary education existed in the heads of these families, but no effort had been made to secure the benefits to which all looked forward with an intense longing.
Under the direction of David Patton, a meeting was called, at which it was decided to erect a log schoolhouse. This resolution was not formed to be speedily forgotten, but was acted upon at onee.
There was no plethorie treasury, there were no selfish contractors, there were no expensive mechanies to employ, so the men shouldered their axes, and in the most primitive manner constructed the most primitive schoolhouse. One week from the day of the meeting, the new schoolhouse was ready for use.
A difficulty at this point, however, presented itself. The schoolhouse was in place, and about thirty-five pupils waiting, eager to slake their thirst for knowledge at the spring from which they had been so long debarred. But teachers were scarce, and none could be found to lead the young minds.
In this extremity, Mr. Patton himself assumed the responsibility of teacher. opened the school about the middle of November, 1853, and taught till the following spring.
In the spring of 1854, Mr. Patton went to Lafayette, Indiana, to buy his supply of groceries, and while there employed a Miss Eulala Lewis, who taught for six months and then married.
....
PAXTON HIGH SCHOOL
233
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
During the winter of 1854-55. David Patton was again employed to teach, which he did with much credit to himself and great benefit to the school.
Miss Polly Dops, daughter of one of the earliest settlers, a family of the Button neighborhood, six miles southeast of Paxton, and favorably known by everyone, was engaged to teach for six months during the summer of 1855.
A Mr. Smith from Montgomery county, Indiana, was engaged to teach the school in the Patton district, as it was now called. during the winter of 1855-56. The pupils, some of whom could attend school only a short time during the year, manifested great interest in their work, and pursued their studies with a wonder- ful zeal.
Prospect City. now Paxton, on the Illinois Central Railroad, at this time gave promise of becoming an improtant business center, and many new families came in to share in the profits that often arise from the rapid building up and improving of new frontier towns.
Among the new comers was a Rev. W. W. Blanchard, of Urbana. Mr. Blanchard was engaged to teach the first school in the Upper Ten Mile, a place two miles further up the stream than the Patton school. This school was taught during the winter of 1855-56.
The people here had not yet built a schoolhouse, but the school was taught in the lean-to of the log house of the late Daniel C. Stoner, extensively and favorably known throughout the entire southern part of the county.
An incident worthy of notice. and one that will long be remembered in that locality; an incident that varied the humdrum monotony of everyday life, and fixed the beginning of a new era in that neighborhood, was the marriage of one of the pupils, Miss Barbara Stoner, to N. B. Day, one of the leading citizens of the young but enterprising city of Paxton. The teacher, Rev. Blanchard, solemn- ized the important event. A marriage is always of interest, but in a new country and a young community, it becomes an event of paramount importance. In this case the bride, Mrs. N. B. Day, continued an earnest student till the close of the term, which made the event doubly important. for not every school has the honor to have on its roll a full-blown bride.
Other pupils of this school were the Rev. Franklin Stoner; Jesse Todd; Edmund and Oliver Hagin.
We cannot stop to trace the history of the individual, nor give even a brief biography of each pupil. It is sufficient to state that nearly every member of these early schools filled an honorable place in the community where he resided.
In the summer of 1856, Mr. Blanchard was engaged to teach in the log schoolhouse in the Patton district, District No. 1. During the following winter
234
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
of 1856-57, Mr. Blanchard taught in the parlor of Mr. Patton, District No. 1. the old schoolhouse, which had been built in 1853, and at the time of the building was intended as a makeshift only, having become old and useless.
At this time the population increased so rapidly that it became necessary to organize new school districts. This was especially true of Paxton, a growing young city, but still without a schoolhouse.
Ford county did not yet exist, but the territory constituting it was still a part of Vermilion county. Applicants for teachers' certificates, therefore, were obliged to go a distance of fifty miles or more to Danville, in order to pass an examination and secure certificates. The journey across the country was not only very fatiguing and expensive, but at times quite impossible, and few could afford to make the long journey.
In order to obviate so long a journey. Mr. Blanchard wrote to the Superin- tendent at Danville, stating the circumstances, and requested him to appoint Mr. Patton an Examining Committee for the north part of Vermilion county. The superintendent returned an appointment to Messrs. Blanchard and Patton as such committee. This facilitated the work very much and was hailed with delight by all aspirants for teachers' positions. Mr. Blanchard being the scholar of this committee, did the examining, while David Patton, who was a live business man, attended somewhat to the general business connected with the office.
Among the first applicants for certificate under the new dispensation was Mrs. Salina Allen, an old and experienced teacher of Whiteside county, and sister of the Rev. Blanchard and President Blanchard, of Knox College.
Mrs. Allen was employed to teach the first school taught in Paxton. Among her pupils were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Stites, O. B. Taft, who was after- ward a member of the firm of Pearsons & Taft. Mrs. Allen taught at different times with much success in the Patton and Stoner districts.
About this time, June, 1859, Ford county was organized, and the Rev. Blanchard was elected the first county Superintendent of Schools in the new county.
In the summer of 1859, Miss Mary A. Blanchard, daughter of President Blanchard, was employed to teach in the Patton district.
New distriets were now rapidly organized, one near the place where Elliott is now located in Dix township, and Mrs. Allen, who had been teaching with such marked success in nearly all the schools in the new county, was employed to teach.
In 1860, a distriet was organized in the western part of Dix township. A portion of the territory forming this school district was taken from the eastern
235
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
part of Drummer Grove township, and was therefore called Union District. Harvey Nash was the first teacher in this school, and was followed by Mr. Pierpont, who finished his term, Mr. Nash having enlisted and gone to Washing- ton to take up arms in the defense of his country.
Other teachers in this district were Miss Carver, Mrs. LeFevre and Miss Mary Pierpont, who married Henry C. Hall, of Paxton.
The country lying northwest of Paxton, and now known as Wall township, early attracted settlers to its fertile, rolling prairies. But the settlers were so much scattered that no united effort was made to secure educational advantages till the year 1861. In this year, a small schoolhouse was built on the northeast corner of section 26, in the Noel neighborhood, and is still known as the Noel school, although it has been moved south one mile, and is now located on the northeast corner of section 35. Mr. William Noel was the first township treasurer of Wall township. Miss Smith, from MeLean county, was the first teacher to officiate in the Noel school.
After Mrs. Allen elosed her term of school in Dix township, she was engaged to teach during the year 1861 in a new district in the western part of Wall township, organized by Mr. bytle, who afterward was a respected citizen of Paxton. This school was taught in a log house belonging to Mr. Lytle. Mrs. D. Denman, of Paxton, was one of the first pupils. In the summer of 1862, a school was taught in this district in the house of John Morris, by Miss Katy Bonesell. No schoolhouse was built in this district till 1863, when a small schoolhouse was erected, and euphoniously christened "String Town School."
Mrs. Allen was an earnestly religious woman, and in addition to her school duties, found time to organize the first Sabbath school in Paxton, being also the first in Ford county.
During the summer of 1859, Miss Loretta Goodrich taught the first school in the Trickle Grove schoolhouse, about five miles southeast of Paxton.
A small schoolhouse was built in 1859, in Paxton, and Miss Jennie Lyon, who afterwards became Mrs. Samuel L. Day, was the first teacher. This schoolhouse was soon outgrown, sold for a dwelling-house, and a larger one was built. Mr. and Mrs. Amyx were the teachers here for some time. Soon this schoolhouse also became too small, and was sold to the First Swedish Lutheran congregation, and was, in 1872, sold to the Baptist body. The nucleus of the old frame building on the present schoolhouse site on East Center street was then erected, and was added to from time to time, as the occasion required.
In 1890 the north wing of the present brick building on this site was erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and in 1896 was completed at a cost of about
236
IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
fifteen thousand dollars, which makes a complete and commodions school building for the high school and east side grades.
In 1902, by a vote of the people it was decided to build a brick building on the west side. Accordingly the beautiful West Lawn building was erected at a cost of twelve thousand five hundred dollars.
Of the teachers mentioned in connection with the history of this portion of the country, Messrs. Patton and Blanchard and Mrs. Allen deserve the honor of doing the pioneer work.
We have dwelt upon the details of the work done in this locality, not because it is of greater importance than that done elsewhere, but because the first school work was done here, and gradually spread over the entire county from this point.
The western portion of the county, consisting of Drummer. Grove, Sullivant and Peach Orchard townships, early gave attention to educational work. In the winter of 1854-55. Dr. Davis removed from Cheeney's Grove. McLean county, to the western portion of Ford county, and was for several years the only settler. That country in time attracted its share of new comers, and in 1862 Dr. Davis found several families, neighbors to himself, with no educational advantages. Dr. Davis employed a teacher in the winter in 1863-64, to give instruction to his children, and, being withal a generous man, he invited the neighbors' children to be educated with his family.
The first schoolhouse in this portion of the county was built in 1863, in the southeast part of Drummer Grove township, and is popularly known as the Wantwood School.
In the summer of 1865. two new school districts were organized, the Powers Farm school and the Drummer Grove school. The schoolhouse known as the Powers Farm school answered the threefold purpose of schoolhouse. church and public hall for several years. In 1870, the Powers Farm schoolhouse was removed and still serves as a dwelling honse. The following year, 1871. a new and larger building was erected in its place, and the name was changed to Union School District No. 4.
Before either of the above mentioned houses were built, Miss Jennie Frew. of Paxton, taught in a small farm house on the farm of Mr. Asa Canterbury, 1865.
The first school officers elected were Asa Canterbury, treasurer; L. Lavett. C. Palmer and J. Warner, trustees; Thomas Green, Lewis Weakman and Caleb MeKeover, directors.
The first teacher in the Union District was Miss Emma Clark, a lady without a finger or thumb on either hand, but by means of an elastic band around her
237
IHISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
wrist, under which she slipped a penholder or pencil, was able to write a very good hand. By securing a switch in the same unique manner. she was enabled to give the obstreperous youths as much of the birch as was thought necessary to aid an elementary education.
The Drummer Grove schoolhouse was erected in 1866, and in 1872 was removed to Gibson City, and has since then grown into an efficient graded school. Of the early teachers in the Drummer Grove schoolhouse, we will mention only a few : £ Arabella M. Davis, daughter of Dr. Davis, before mentioned, and afterward Mrs. Weaver White ; A. F. Irwin and Weaver White.
The original Drummer Grove schoolhouse, which had been moved to Gibson City in 1872, soon became too small to accommodate the rapidly increasing school population of the enterprising young city, and it was found necessary to provide a larger building. The people of Gibson City, therefore, who, by the way, were never known to do anything in a half-way manner, erected. in 1874, a large and substantial brick building, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, with four elegant rooms. But so rapid was the increase in population that it became necessary to provide more room. Another schoolhouse was erected in 1882, and Gibson City is now provided with school buildings second to none in Eastern Illinois.
The entire Pan Handle, consisting of Lyman. Brenton, Pella, Mona and Rogers townships, was known by the name of Town of Stockton until the year 1858.
In 1858, a petition was sent to John C. Short, who was county clerk of Vermilion county, asking that notices be issued and forwarded to John R. Lewis, to set off town 26, range 9. This was done, and the town of Brenton dates its organization from this time.
About the same time, 1858, efforts were made to have the territory south of Brenton and north of Wall set apart as a distinct township, forming what is now Lyman township.
A meeting to elect township trustees was held at the residence of John R. Lewis, January 1, 1859. and J. E. Davis, A. JJ. Bartlett and Saul C. Burt were elected township trustees. This was the first step toward popular education in the Pan Handle, and from this nucleus the work has spread over the entire northern part of the county. The trustees met for the purpose of organizing. February 9, 1859, at the house of A. J. Bartlett. After the organization had been completed, the township of Brenton was divided into two school districts, the south half forming District No. 1, and the north half District No. 2. John R. Lewis was appointed township treasurer for Brenton township, and also received
238
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
a commission from Superintendent Blanchard to examine applicants for teachers' certificates. Mr. Lewis filled the latter office until the election of James Brown, 1869. It was further provided at this meeting, that election notices for a school election in Distriet No. 1 be posted, and an election held in order that something tangible might be done in securing school privileges. This election was held at the house of Jacob Titus, Monday, February 21, 1859, but was adjourned to February 28. At this adjourned meeting, John R. Lewis, District No. 1. Brenton township. Nothing more, however, was done in secur- Mark Parsons and Ira Z. Congdon were elected the first Board of Directors in ing a school at this time. There were no schoolhouses : the dwelling houses were small and the obstacles that hindered school work almost unsurmountable.
J. E. Davis and A. J. Bartlett, trustees, had moved from the township shortly after their election in the summer of 1859, and it became necessary to elect other trustees in their place. Accordingly a meeting for the election of trustees was called for February 1, 1860. At this election L. T. Bishop and T. W. Pope were elected. So far schools existed in theory only, and as no educa- tion was diffused in this way, great efforts were now made to have a school in reality. To further this end, JJohn R. Lewis offered his shed lean-to for a school- house, which was gladly accepted.
A Miss Annie E. Hobbis, afterward Mrs. Conrow, wife of County Superin- tendent Conrow, was the first teacher in the Pan Handle, beginning the school the first Monday in December, 1859, and continued four months. Mr. Lewis, in addition to giving his lean-to for school purposes, furnished the fuel to keep the pupils warm, and board for the teacher for four months. For this he received the very liberal compensation of twenty-four dollars.
The following summer, 1860, the first schoolhouse in the Pan Handle was built on the farm of Mr. Wagner, and is to this day known as the Jacob Wagner School. This was a small building, sixteen by twenty feet, but answered the purpose quite well. Miss Hobbis, who had made a record as a good teacher the winter before, was engaged to teach the pupils that gathered at this diminutive college.
A small village, Piper City, had sprung up in Distriet No. 2, in the northern part of Brenton township, and it became necessary to provide means for educa- tion there. A small schoolhouse, probably the smallest ever built, twelve by twelve feet, was erected in 1865. This house was several years afterward displaced by a larger and more convenient school building. The first teacher here was Miss Mary Thompson. After the close of Miss Thompson's term, a
239
HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
Miss Brown, who became Mrs. Mc Elhiney, taught in the village school. From this small beginning has grown the present efficient graded school of Piper City.
In 1900, by a vote of the people the schoolhouse site was changed to the south side and the present fine six room brick building was erected at a cost of twelve thousand five hundred dollars.
Lyman township was not far behind her sister township, Brenton, in educa- tional work. About the same time when Brenton township was organized, S. K. Marston sent in a petition to have Lyman township organized, and the organiza- tion of the two townships was consummated about the same time. In the north- eastern part of Lyman township are several sections of broken, rolling land, which were early settled by people from Connecticut. They chose this because it stood in such a decided contrast to the surrounding prairie, which to them looked more like a great expanse of marsh than land fit for agricultural purposes, and was more in conformity with the nature of the country in their Connecticut homes. These persons, eager for educational advantages, organized a school district in 1859, and Mrs. S. K. Marston was engaged to give the necessary instruction. This first school was taught in an upper room of Mr. Marston's dwelling. Among the pupils was G. P. Lyman, brother of S. B. Lyman, ex- sheriff of Ford county. A schoolhouse was built in this settlement in the summer of 1860, and was named District No. 1. Soon after this, a district was organized two miles south. This was christened District No. 2, and is popularly known as the Larkin's District. No schoolhouse was built in this district for some time, but W. S. Larkins came to the rescue by giving the use of one of his rooms for school purposes. Here Miss Alice J. Jewell scattered the jewels of an elementary education among the rising generation. The second term of school in this district was taught in a small stable, converted into a school room, and Miss Jewell again presided as teacher. In 1863 or 1864 a schoolhouse was built. and one of the early teachers was the congenial George H. Thompson, extensively known throughout the entire central part of the county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.